Setaria asked, "Have you noticed anything strange in the city lately?"
"Like, has anyone tried to preach to you or anything?"
Lumine said, "No, I've been spending all my free time studying in the basement."
"But speaking of strange things... I've been through many, many Sabzeruz Festivals in a row."
Setaria was taken aback. "Wait, how could you possibly have noticed? That's impossible. It doesn't match what the reports show."
[Paimon: That was another close call, wasn't it? If they can monitor the dream, then the only anomaly in the dream is Lumine.]
[Ningguang: That was a bold move.]
[Lumine: Nahida, what would you have said?]
[Nahida: I probably would have used a metaphor—told a story about the stars and the desert.]
[Lumine: That's not King Deshret's style. Not all gods like to speak in metaphors.]
[Paimon: Most gods are vague and like to speak in riddles.]
[Furina: Slander! That's pure slander! We just have reasons we can't say things directly.]
[Paimon: Zhongli literally never reveals the contents of his contracts in the video.]
[Zhongli: Not revealing the contents of a contract is also part of the contract.]
[Lumine: But Neuvillette is good. He never speaks in riddles. He just says what he means.]
[Neuvillette: Riddles? I don't speak in riddles.]
Lumine crossed her arms. "What, did you think the Akademiya's tricks could deceive all the citizens? Haven't you realized that's impossible?"
Setaria asked tentatively, "You... you're not also a follower of King Deshret, are you?"
Lumine crossed her arms and turned away. "That's a strange way to ask it. As if being a follower of King Deshret were something wrong."
"Surely it's you, helping the Akademiya use the city's citizens as test subjects, who should be more afraid of the light." Lumine's gaze was sharp.
Setaria shook her head repeatedly and quickly ran off.
Paimon asked, "Even after all this, she still chose to run away?"
Lumine wondered, "Was I too intimidating?"
Nahida said, "No. Her psychological defenses are about to collapse."
Paimon said, "She's looking for guards. What should we do?"
Nahida said, "This is the critical moment. Prepare for possession."
Setaria said to a mercenary, "You're from the Thirty, right? Go inform the Mahamatra immediately. The situation in the city is very dangerous."
Lumine, disguised as the mercenary, said quickly, "Please calm down, miss. What exactly happened?"
Setaria said, "A heretical cult is infiltrating the city and spreading among the people."
[Paimon: The Mahamatra would just say, 'Aren't we the ones spreading those rumors?']
[Yae Miko: Hahahaha, 'the rumors are spread by us'—what a huge misunderstanding!]
[Paimon: Why didn't she fall for it?]
[Nahida: She's now just waiting for the final straw. To break a camel's back, you can't skimp on the last straw.]
[Cyno: Fortunately, none of the corrupt Sages in the Akademiya possess Visions.]
[Paimon: Their actions would never earn a deity's recognition anyway.]
[Zhongli: Though I don't know the exact rules for granting Visions, evil wishes would certainly not be acknowledged.]
Lumine asked, "Heresy? What heresy are you referring to?"
Setaria said, "King Deshret. Many people I know have suddenly become followers of King Deshret. But King Deshret has been dead for a very long time. That's impossible."
Lumine shook her head. "Miss Setaria, nothing is impossible."
Setaria was startled. "How... how do you know my name?"
Lumine said, "King Deshret is immortal. Those who act recklessly will pay the price."
"Stop running. You're already caught in quicksand right now. Even if you close your eyes, the Akademiya is still dragging you down by your ankles, sinking you deeper and deeper."
"The desert that belongs to you isn't here, child of King Deshret."
[Paimon: We've got her. If I were Setaria, I wouldn't have any resistance left in me.]